Guide card with index-insert pocket



Aug. 10, 1937.. R. s. BpuRDoN 2,089,333

GUIDE CARD WI-TH iNDEX INSERT POCKET Filed Feb. 21. less Patented Aug.10, 1937 rarest or ies GUIDE CARD WITH I NDEX-INSERT POCKET Russell G.Bourdon, Muskegon, Mich, assignor to The Shaw-Walker Company,

Mich, a corporation Muskegon, of Michigan Application February 21, 1936,Serial No. 65,070

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in index guide cards withindex-insert pockets, and consists of the matters hereinafter describedand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

3 Index guide cards are associated with card index and similar filingsystems as partition members for separating the file contents accordingto alphabetical or other classification of subject matter and aregenerally made of heavy and durable stock and are provided with aprojecting tab along the top edge, to which is applied the index-insertpocket. As generally made, the inden-insert pockets, whether of metal orcelluloid, extend below the tab into the body of the card,

thus appreciably increasing its thickness in the J neighborhood of thetab. Filing space is therefore sacrificed and there is a tendency to fanout, that is, the cards tend to assume angles oblique to their properpositions, resulting in difficulty in handling the file.

The object of the present invention is to provide an index-guide cardhaving an index-insert pocket of celluloid which is efiiciently securedto a tab projecting above the main body of the card, so as to save thespace lost in guide cards I where the index-insert holders extend downinto the body of the card. And this, without the sacrifice of anystrength of the card or index-insert 3O pocket.

The advantages of the invention will appear more clearly as I proceedwith my specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is. a View representing the improved as guide card with theindex-insert pocket shown in front elevation;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a spiral tubular strip ofcelluloid, from which the indexinsert pocket is to be formed;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a type of mandrel used in theprocess of forming the index-insert pocket and applying it to the tab ofthe guide card;

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing the manner of application of saidmandrel in carrying out the process;

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate successive steps in the formation andapplication of the index-insert pocket;

50 Figure '7 is a perspective view of a press with a card and insertassembled ready for the final step of the process; and

Figure 8 is an exaggerated view in perspective showing the index-insertpocket as applied to the 55 tab of the guide card.

Referring now. to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawing:l9 indicates a guide card made of heavy stock, such as pressboard. It is of the same dimensions as the cards of the system withwhich it is used, but differs therefrom in that it has a tab H whichrises above its upper edge H2. The location of the tabs H with referenceto the length of the top edge I2 will, of course, vary on the differentcards in the usual manner, those on one card being olf-set withreference to the following card or cards. l3 indicates the index-insertpocket. This is secured to the tab and is preferably shorter than thedepth of the tab.

The index-insert pocket is made of celluloid and consists of a tubularsheath bent upon itself to present three laps, namely, a rear lap I4, afront lap l5 and an intermediate lap IS. The laps It and I6 are designedto embrace and to be secured to the tab ll, While the laps l5 and it aredesigned to be spaced apart to provide the pocket for receiving theinsert.

The index-insert pocket is applied to the card by the following process:

A strip of celluloid is first formed in any convenient manner into theloosely folded tubular sheath-like structure shown in Figure 2. Thisstructure may be formed in lengths, multiples of the length of theintended index-insert pocket, and each length is cut transversely toprovide a plurality of like structures, such as that shown in Figure 2.

I provide a duplex mandrel l1 comprising two blades l8, IS. The oneblade I9 is slightly narrower than the blade l8, and the blade 18 is ofa thickness to determine the transverse width of the pocket to be formedto receive the indexinsert.

To form and apply the index-insert pocket, the blade H3 is inserted intothe space between the laps E 5 and N5 of the loose tubular sheath shownin Figure 2. With the blade I8 in this position, the blade I9 willengage against the outer face of the front lap l5 with its bottom edgesomewhat above the bottom of the bend of the celluloid tubular sheathbetween the front lap l5 and the intermediate lap l5, as shown inFigures 4, 5 and 6. A cementing solution is then applied to the rearface of the lap l6 and to the front face of the lap M and the tubularsheath, with the mandrel thus disposed with respect to it, is applied tothe tab ll of the card ID, with the intermediate lap l6 against thefront face of said tab and the back lap 14 against the rear face of saidtab, as shown in Figure 5. The tab with the applied sheath and mandrelis then disposed on the bottom plate 20 of a press in position to beengaged by a movable press plate 2|. The press plates are heated to atempera- 5 ture in the neighborhood of 130 degrees to 140 degreesFahrenheit and apply to the sheath a pressure in the neighborhood of 300pounds.

The application of the pressure and heat securely seals the intermediatelap l6 and the rear 10 lap M of the tubular sheath to the opposite sidesof the tab H. In addition, since the blade IQ of l the mandrel, which isapplied to the front lap I5, is of less depth than said front lap andsince its lower edge is above the lower edge of the blade I8,

the result is to distort the bend at the bottom fold between the frontlap l5 and the intermediate lap It of the sheath to provide a bend 22 ofgreater diameter than the space between the front lap l5 and theintermediate lap Hi. This is clearly illustrated in comparing Figures 5and 6, where Figure 5 shows in exaggerated section the mandrel insertedin the tubular sheath as it appears before pressure is applied, andFigure 6 shows the sheath as it appears after the pressure has beenapplied and the distorted bend 22 has been formed.

The transverse width of the pockets should be about .010 of an inch.With a simple bend between the outer lap 05 and the intermediate lap ,30it, half this width or .005 of an inch would determine the radius of thebend, which is so small that the celluloid will tend to crack. As aresult, the index-insert pocket thus made soon becomes useless and theindex cards have to be abandoned.

In making the bend, however, in the manner described, the distortionwill result in a curve of I a somewhat larger radius, as .010 and this Ihave found will obviate and prevent the objectionable cracking of thefold referred to.

After the pressure and heat have been applied in the manner described,the card is withdrawn from the press and the mandrel withdrawn from thetubular sheath, leaving said sheath securely adhered to the tab, asshown in exaggerated form in Figure 8, with the tab engaged between theback lap i i and the intermediate lap l6 and with the index-insertpocket 23 provided between the intermediate lap l6 and the front lap I5.

It will, of course, be understood that while the invention has beenillustrated herein as applied to a small guide card or a card indexsystem, it is equally applicable to larger guide cards for filingsystems including folders and the like.

I claim as my invention: I

1. A guide card for filing systems, consisting of a card of relativelyheavy material provided with a projecting tab, an index-insert pocketformed of a tubular spiral of celluloid, said spiral comprising a backlap, a front lap and an intermediate lap, the tab being embraced betweenthe back lap and the intermediate lap, to both of which it is adhered,the intermediate lap being bent upon the front lap to provide a narrowpocket between them, the bend being distorted forwardly at the bottomwith a transverse curvature of diameter greater than the space betweensaid front and intermediate laps.

2. A guide card for filing systems, consisting of a card of relativelyheavy material provided with a projecting tab, an index-insert pocket ofapproximately the depth of said tab formed of a tubular spiral ofcelluloid, said spiral comprising a back lap, a front lap and anintermediate lap, the tab being embraced between the back lap and theintermediate lap, to both of which it is adhered, the intermediate lapbeing bent upon the front lap to provide a narrow pocket between them,the bend being distorted forwardly at the bottom with a transversecurvature of diameter greater than the space between said front andintermediate laps.

3. A guide card for filing systems, consisting of a card of press board,an index-insert pocket formed of a tubular spiral of celluloid, saidspiral consisting of .a back lap, a front lap and an intermediate lap,the card being embraced between the back lap and the intermediate lap,to both of which it is adhered, the intermediate lap being bent upon thefront lap to provide a narrow pocket between them, and the bend beingdistorted forwardly at the bottom with a transverse curvature ofdiameter greater than the space between said front and intermediatelaps.

RUSSELL G. BOURDON.

